The bar: Nick’s New Haven-Style Pizzeria and Bar, Boca Raton

The vibe: If your neighborhood pizzeria was on one of those home improvement shows where a group of stylish folks swoop in and give the place an upgrade, it might look something like Nick’s. Deceptively modest from the outside in its strip mall surroundings, it’s got dark wood with inviting family photos on the wall, televisions for your sports-viewing pleasure, and a crowd that ranges from families to after-work yuppies to college kids enjoying a brew and a pie.

The drink: The Lemonade New Haven-Style, the most tantalizing grown-up raspberry lemonade you’ll ever drink ($12), and the Pomegranate Margarita ($14), available with or without salt. Yum.

Other noteworthy libations: The phrase “cool as a cucumber” is pretty cliche, as are the current slate of cucumber-infused cocktails, which sometimes taste like a glass of vodka with a cucumber slapped in it. Nick’s Cucumber Blast ($12) certainly is cool and soothing, but with the sour punch of Svedka Citron, cut with a homemade simple syrup and muddled cucumber, it’s far from boring.

Bar bites: Nick’s specialty is the chewy-crispy thin crust New Haven style pizza, known popularly as “apizza.” The house specialty combines white clams, bacon and garlic (starting at $20), an unexpected combination of flavors and textures. It’s our new favorite. We also suggest getting the hot cherry peppers on anything you get. Also, the risotto balls of three-cheese goodness ($10), savory broccoli rabe and sausage ($10) and the fried calamari ($10).

Deals: Happy Hour is 4 to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 2 to 6 p.m. Fridays, featuring half-priced appetizers and two for one drinks specials. And each day has a special, including Mojito Mondays and Tequila Thursdays.

Info: Nick’s New Haven-Style Pizzeria and Bar, 2240 W. 19th Street, Suite 904, Boca Raton; 561-368-2900.

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C O C K T A I L S

Lemonade “New Haven-Style”

3 ounces Svedka Raspberry Vodka

1 ounce Pama Liquor

1 ounce simple syrup

4 lemon wedges

Squeeze lemons into other 3 ingedients. Shake over ice and pour into martini glass.

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Cucumber Blast

3 ounces Svedka Citron

1 ounce triple sec

1 ounce simple syrup

1/2 ounce sour mix

4 slices cucumber, muddled

Shake ingredients with ice, strain and serve.